Giovanni Trapattoni has told Stephen Ireland that he would not pick him for the World Cup finals — if they get there — should he play no part in the qualification campaign.

The Republic of Ireland manager, in bullish mood after his team squeaked to victory over Georgia on Wednesday with the help of a controversial penalty, would like to welcome the Manchester City midfielder back. But Ireland has not played for his country since September 2007, when he left Steve Staunton's squad because of personal problems, and he has shown no desire to return.

If Trapattoni were to guide the team to the finals in South Africa next year – they currently share the lead of Group Eight with Italy having taken 10 points from four ties – then there would be a clamour for Ireland, one of the nation's more gifted players, to be involved.

But Trapattoni has suggested that the player's chances will decrease with each fixture that he misses and made it plain that he would not jeopardise harmony in his squad by allowing Ireland to stroll back. "Maybe we will take Ireland into consideration but, if we qualify with this squad, he cannot say, 'I am available'," the manager said. "That's not for him, it's about the fans. He has to show Irishness and a willingness to play for Ireland.

"I have not excluded any possibility, including [Lee] Carsley [the Birmingham midfielder]. The squad is not 18 players, for example. There are injuries and sendings off. You need others. But a team is strong when it is compact, when it practises together, when the positions are the same. When you change two or three players, as Italy did in the friendly against Brazil on Tuesday, you lose. It's about consistency. I don't excuse anyone but at the moment we are a solid group. In the future, if needs be ... we will see."

Trapattoni said he could "never say never" about Ireland and he also has another central midfielder, Steven Reid, in his thoughts, with the Blackburn player still recovering from a long-term injury.

The focus, though, is next month's home tie with Bulgaria, to the extent that he says he is not even thinking about the Italy game in Bari four days later. If Ireland beat Bulgaria, then they would move 10 points clear of the nation who have been billed as their greatest rivals for a second-place finish and a play-off berth.

Trapattoni, however, is aiming higher and feels that the fates are smiling on him. Against Georgia at Croke Park his team were 1–0 down and struggling until the referee penalised Ucha Lobjanidze for a non-existent handball and Robbie Keane equalised from the spot. Keane bundled home the winner shortly afterwards.

The Irish also enjoyed a break earlier in the campaign when Georgia's war with Russia over the disputed region of South Ossetia meant they were unable to play against Trapattoni's men in Tbilisi. The match was switched to Germany and Ireland won 2–1. Cyprus and Bulgaria have since gone to Tbilisi and drawn.

"It is not forbidden to dream and sometimes dreams come true," added Trapattoni, on the subject of beating Italy to first place and automatic qualification. "When you play cards with your friends, you want to win. It's important that we are level on points with Italy when we go to play them. We can beat Bulgaria."